Chesapeake Fishing Open

Port Covington Marina • Baltimore, MD

September 15 & 16, 2023

CAPTAINS MEETING

September 14, 2023
Nick's Fish House, 5pm - 7pm

Prizes for the Chesapeake Fishing Open:

$5,000

CASH
to the Grand Prize winner of the longest 3 fish stringer (any species)

$1,000

CASH
each to the winners for longest Rockfish, Snakehead and Catfish categories

$500

CASH
to the winner for longest White Perch

2nd and 3rd place winners will receive gift cards to our friends over at Tochtermans Fishing Tackle in Fells Point.
Prize money may increase with angler participation. See full list of prizes

Event Overview

This year's Chesapeake Fishing Open is a two day event, kicking off with a Thursday night Captain’s Party at Nick’s Fish House on September 14th, 2023.

Lines go in bright and early on September 15th and 16th, and anglers will be competing for the biggest Rockfish, Catfish, Snakehead and White Perch.

On Saturday the 16th, there will also be two great parts of this event happening back at the docks and shoreline of Port Covington Marina and the surrounding Baltimore Peninsula.

A shoreline clean up organized by the Maryland Waterways Foundation will take place in two locations, and the Family & Youth Fishing Derby will provide  fishing lessons for kids, filleting demos and arts and crafts.  A professional charter vessel will also take willing youth and families for short fishing trips around the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, as others can fish from the marina docks.

When the contestants get back the party heats up, with live music, raffle prizes and Baltimore’s best seafood brought to you by Nick’s Fish House!

 

Registration Details

$75 per individual with a maximum of 6 participants on one boat.  $450 for a 6 person team registration

  • Do you have all 6 team members and their contact information?  Register as a team for $450
  • 1-5 team members register as $75 individual(s) and include team name for all participants(if applicable)
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Free & Open to the Public

Youth & Family Fishing Festival

For those who aren't fishing the tournament but want to enjoy time fishing from shore, join us in the youth & family fishing events held throughout the day. 

A free charter boat has also been arranged that will take youth anglers and guardians fishing from the Port Covington Marina throughout the day.   

Fishing equipment and safety equipment will be provided for all participants. 

Free & Open to the Public

Community Cleanup

For those who aren’t fishing, join us to pitch in and clean up the Baltimore Peninsula shoreline.

Our Mission

Founded in 2019, The Chesapeake Fishing Open was created to be a fun and competitive day of fishing that supports local non-profit organizations who focus on improving water quality and promoting conservation efforts in and around the Patapsco River and Harbor Basins.

 

Check out last year's competition video here >

Play Video

Benefit Groups

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Captain's Meting

Thursday, Sep. 14
5 pm - 7 pm

Food and beverages for participants

Nick's Fish House
2600 Insulator Drive
Baltimore, MD 21230

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Fishing

Friday & Saturday, Sep. 15 & 16
7 am - 3 pm

For those who aren't fishing, join us to pitch in and clean up the area around Baltimore Peninsula or participate in the youth & family fishing events held throughout the day.

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Party & Awards Ceremony

Saturday, Sep. 16
4 pm - 8 pm

Awards at 5 pm

Food and beverages served for all registered participants with tickets. Additional tickets are available for purchase at the door for guests. Band plays until 10 pm.

Port Covington Marina
321 E Cromwell St.
Baltimore, MD 21230

Details

All fish must be caught on hook and line following all Maryland DNR rules and regulations

Fishing Area: an area South of the Conowingo Dam to North of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Kent Narrows Bridge (US 50/301) and all tidal waters in between these two lines.

Striped Bass (Catch, Photo, Release Division), Catfish, Northern Snakehead, White Perch

Legal fishing begins at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15th 2022.  You must submit your photo via iAngler Tournament by 3:00pm or in person at the Tournament Judging Station at Nick's Fish House by 4:00 p.m. to have your fish entered.

In order to have your fish judged, you must submit a clear and readable digital photo of your fish measured resting directly along side or on top of the official 2021 measuring stick before the 3:00 p.m. Lines out/Photo Submission deadline via the iAngler Tournament app or in person at Nick's Fish House by 4:00pm.

All measurements will be determined by length measured from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail to the nearest quarter inch.  The tail may be pinched. 

In case of a tie, the fish measured first will be the winner.

Put the measuring stick on the deck of your boat. Lay the fish on top of the measuring stick with the snout of the fish on the zero mark and the tip of the tail on the higher number.  Include the entire fish in the photo.

The unique photo indicator symbol announced during the Captains Meeting must be visible in the photo.  (Ink it on your hand or on a durable card with a Sharpie).

You are responsible for getting the snout of the fish exactly on the zero end of the measuring stick. The judges cannot allow any adjustment for a snout that appears to be past the end of the stick. It helps to jam the measuring stick against a vertical surface such as a bulkhead or the side of the cockpit to ensure that the zero mark (end of the stick) and the snout of the fish are even. 

It is helpful in the judging process to have two or three photos of your fish on the measuring stick, clearly showing the length, but your best picture should be the one you submit via the iAnglertournament app.

Grand Prize: Longest Three Fish of any Species
$5,000 Cash

1st Place: Longest Rockfish, Catfish and Snakehead
$1,000 Cash

1st Place: Longest Perch
$500 Cash

2nd Place: Longest Rockfish, Catfish and Snakehead
$500 Tochtermans Gift Card

2nd Place: Longest Perch
$250 Tochtermans Gift Card

3rd Place: Longest Rockfish, Catfish and Snakehead
$250 Tochtermans Gift Card

3rd Place: Longest Perch
$100 Tochtermans Gift Card

Prize money could increase due to participation!

Potential winners must sign in at the Judging Station prior by 4:00 p.m. for an interview with the judges and to receive a certified measurement card to become eligible to win.

The judges also reserve the right to examine the embedded metadata of any photo image to confirm the validity of a claim.  Photos with edited or missing metadata may be disallowed at the judges’ discretion.

As a courtesy, the Chesapeake Rockfish Open judges will provide certified measurements of fish entered in the Calcuttas. You will need to visit the judging station to obtain your certified measurement card.  Calcutta managers must provide a complete list of participants to the judges.

All participants and guests of participants are responsible for their own personal safety and the security of their personal property and expressly assume any and all risks to their personal safety and well-being as a result of their participation in the catch & release tournament.  It is a pre-condition of participation in the Chesapeake Fishing Open Tournament that all participants shall release and hold harmless the Chesapeake Fishing Open, Coastal Conservation Association Maryland and any sponsors from any and all claims, losses, costs and expenses, personal injuries, wrongful deaths and property damage, whatsoever, arising from or during participation in the Chesapeake Fishing Open Tournament.  By electing to participate in the Chesapeake Fishing Open Tournament, all participants agree to, and grant this release of liability and shall not be permitted to withdraw or disavow that release of liability.

For good and valuable consideration, including without limitation the acceptance of the registered participants entry or participation in the Chesapeake Fishing Open(the "Event") and being permitted to participate in certain related activities, the registered participant, for his or herself and his or her personal representatives, heirs, guest, invitees, employees, and team or crew members hereby

(1) RELEASES, WAIVES, DISCHARGES, AND COVENANTS NOT TO SUE  Chesapeake Fishing Open, subsidiaries, related entities, respective members, volunteers, heirs, successors, assigns, officers, directors, employees, agents, contractors, sponsors and subcontractors, (collectively, the "Releasees") from any and all liability to the registered participant, his or her personal representatives, assigns, heirs and next of kin, and for all loss or damage, and all claims or damages therefore, on account of bodily injury, personal injury, death, property or other damage of or to the undersigned, his or her guests, invitees, employees, team or crew, during the Event or arising out of or in any way in connection with the Event or its Rules or related activities or while the registered participant is competing, or participating, regardless of whether caused in whole or in part by the negligence or alleged negligence of Releasees ;

(2) AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS Releasees and each of them from and against all claims, actions, causes of action, damages, liabilities, losses and judgments (collectively, the "Claims") of or by all guests, invitees, employees, and team or crew of the registered participant for bodily injury, personal injury, death, property or other damage which they may suffer or incur during the Event or arising out of or in any way in connection with the Event or its Rules or related activities, regardless of whether caused in whole or in part by the negligence  or alleged negligence of Releasees; and,

(3) ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBILITY for the risk or occurrence of bodily injury, personal injury, death, property or other damage of or to his or herself, his or her guests, invitees, employees, and team or crew and to his or her boat and equipment due to negligence of Releasees or otherwise during the Event or while participating in the Event or related activities or while in or on the Event premises, which includes but is not limited to, its common properties, recreational areas, and adjacent docks, piers, and boat slips. Participant further assumes the responsibility for and acknowledges all dangers associated with weather and sea conditions;

(4) Anyone entering this Tournament is required to abide by the Tournament Rules. Disqualifications will be determined by the Tournament Judges consisting of three (3) Chesapeake Fishing Open Representatives. Any protest must state the rule violated and be received by the tournament judges photo Check-in Deadline. All team participants, including team members, guides and boat drivers are responsible for knowing, understanding, and abiding by these Rules. Failure of any team participant to follow tournament rules or procedures will result in disqualification of the team in violation or non-compliance.

Questions and comments concerning any Rule may be directed to the Tournament Director/Co-Chair. In all Tournament matters, the decisions of the tournament committee are final.

The registered participant agrees to pay all of the Releases’ costs of defending all Claims and further agrees that this Release, Hold Harmless and Agreement Not to Sue is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the State of Maryland and that, if any portion of this agreement is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.

The registered participant also gives permission to use her / his name and / or picture in any published report or coverage of the event.